Balancing Responsibilities

The gentle shaking stirred me from my slumber. Sakura, my little sister, stood next to me, calling my name in a cheerful tone. I slowly opened my eyes, my drowsiness fading away as I sat up on the couch.

"It's almost time for you to leave for work," Sakura informed me. Glancing at the clock hanging over the television, I saw that it was twenty minutes to five in the afternoon. I stood up and stretched my arms.

"You could have woken me up earlier," I chuckled lightly. "Now I won't have time to finish the laundry."

"I wanted you to get more rest," Sakura explained. "You've been so tired recently."

I smiled and patted my sister's head affectionately. "Do you think you or Kaito can put the clothes in the dryer?"

"We can do it!" Sakura replied confidently, standing up straight. Her determination warmed my heart. I retrieved my phone and wallet from the table where my little brother Kaito was engrossed in a drawing. I peered over his shoulder, admiring his artwork—a childishly drawn knight engaged in a fierce battle with a dragon.

"That looks very cool," I praised him, earning a smirk from Kaito.

"Just you wait! I'm not done with this yet," he declared, switching to a blue crayon. I gently ruffled his hair, feeling a surge of pride and love for my siblings. Then, I made my way to the front door.

"Now the two of you better not stay up late," I reminded them as I put on my shoes. "And don't forget to eat dinner."

Sakura waved at me as I walked outside, her smile lighting up the room. "Be careful," she said before settling down on a chair next to Kaito. I waved back and closed the door behind me.

The restaurant where I worked was conveniently located not too far from my house. A quick five-minute bus ride would get me there in no time. However, on Saturdays, I had to be particularly mindful of the time since the bus schedule differed. As a new high school senior, I shouldered more responsibilities than most of my peers. My father passed away when I was halfway through ninth grade, and my mother followed shortly after due to heartbreak. Since then, I had taken on the role of caretaker for my younger siblings, assuming the responsibilities of a parent.

Thanks to the generosity of our family friends, we managed to stay in our current house, and I could continue my education without having to work full-time. Although technically under their care, I refused to be a burden and insisted on doing everything I could to support my siblings.

I worked as a waiter from Monday to Saturday, taking up additional odd jobs like cleaning car interiors at local car washes. On weekdays, I would usually arrive home no earlier than six in the evening, and on Saturdays, not before nine. I would buy groceries after work on Fridays and dedicate my weekends to completing homework and chores.

My siblings were my priority, and I did my best to spend quality time with them, assisting them with their studies, watching their favorite shows together, and ensuring they were tucked in bed at night. There were so many things I wished I could provide for them, but as a single teenager, I had limitations.

After nights of intense work like today, all I desired upon returning home was a good night's rest. However, my mind would continue to race, planning for the upcoming days and contemplating the meals I would cook for tomorrow. As I strolled down the street late at night, thoughts of responsibility and care for my family clouded my mind.

As I quietly entered the house, I noticed another pair of shoes nearby, indicating that Aika, a friend of the family, was present. I placed my own shoes aside and proceeded toward the kitchen to grab a quick bite. Since I hadn't had the opportunity to eat dinner, I decided to heat up some leftovers in the microwave. Just as I was about to take my meal, I noticed Aika entering the room.

"Hello, Aika," I greeted her with a warm smile. The girl with long brown hair returned the smile as she settled down at the dinner table.

"Thank you again for taking care of them," I expressed my gratitude. Aika waved a dismissive hand in the air.

"I came because I wanted to," she stated, resting her head against her hand. "It's always fun to be around them. They're always so energetic!"

"Well, either way, I appreciate you being here so often," I said sincerely. Aika rolled her eyes playfully.

"You don't have to be so polite," she teased. "It makes it seem like we're strangers."

I chuckled sheepishly as Aika stood up, retrieving her jacket from the back of a chair.

"I'll see you later then," she said, heading towards the door and beginning to put on her shoes.

"Let me walk you home," I offered. Aika shook her head, declining my offer.

"That would take too much time for you," she declared. "You should just rest up now."

"It's not safe for a girl to walk alone at night," I insisted.

"And it's not safe for a prone-to-fainting boy either?" Aika half-joked.

"I'll catch some sleep on the metro when I'm returning," I reassured her.

"And you'll end up missing your stop," Aika countered.

"Care to wager a bet on that?" I smirked mischievously. Aika let out a sigh, realizing neither of us would back down.

"How about you just walk me to the station then?" she compromised. "It's halfway between your house and mine."

"I guess I can accept that," I agreed, grateful for the compromise.